Comb



Patented Jan. 7, 1947 COMB Abraham Arvintz and Nathan A. Arvins,

Brooklyn, and Robert A. Arvintz, New York, N. Y., assignors to Reliable Products Manufacturing 00., Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 18, 1945, Serial No. 588,928

7 Claims.

This invention relates to combs of the type employing a tooth or blade end portion and a handle end portion wherein the tooth or blade end portion is adapted to be heated prior to the use of the comb for the purpose of straightening out kinky or tightly curled-hair. More particularly, the invention relates to devices of this kind wherein the teeth or blades of the comb are so mounted as to provide wide separation thereof for cleaning or other purposes, Still more particularly, the invention comprises the use of a cover or guard for the tooth or blade end portion of the comb, when not in use, and in utilizing this guard as a means for positioning the teeth or blades one with respect tothe other when returning loosened or wide spread teeth or blades to their normal clamped relationship to each other. The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed, and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable refer ence characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side and sectional View of a comb made according to our invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing only a part of the construction, with parts in a different position.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a guard or holder which we employ.

In combs of the class under consideration, it has been customary to mount the teeth or blades on a, supporting rod to which the teeth or blades are keyed, and upon which they are permanently held in predetermined spaced relationship to each other by washers disposed therebetween. With such structures difficulty has been experienced in maintaining the combs clean and sanitary, particularly at the wide base portions of the teeth or blades.

It is the purpose of our invention to provide a comb construction wherein the teeth or blades can be separated one from the other to a degree facilitating free cleaning of the blades, and further to provide free swinging movement of the blades on the supporting rod so that opposed surfaces of each tooth or blade are readily accessible for cleaning, Other novel features of the constructio-n'and advantages thereof will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing is shown a comb made according to our invention, which. is divided into a tooth or bladeend portion, I 0 and a handle end portion ll. I'hese end portions are joined by a long rod l2 having a plain unthreaded end portion [3 and a threaded end portion Hi, the threads of which extend to the points I5, shown in section in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The free end of the end portion i3 has a head it forming a stop limiting outward movement of the teeth or blades ll on the rod as well as washers I8 disposed between adjacent surfaces of adjacent teeth or blades in order to form the comb like structure, as will be apparent.

Considering Fig. 3 of the drawing, it will be apparent that the washers have a diameter common to the diameter of the rounded ends I!) of the respective teeth or blades ll. The side walls 2! of the teeth or blade converge to form substantially pointed ends 2! which are rounded sufficiently to provide free passage over the scalp or over the surface at the base of the hair being combed.

In the present construction, the rod i2 is in the form of a round rod, so that each tooth or blade I? is capable of free rotation on the rod, and this provides for movement of independent teeth or blades into position, such as indicated. in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing. In other words, when the teeth or blades are separated, as later described, and as indicated in Fig. 2, individual blades may be swung into this position for thorough cleaning,

Arranged on the rod i2 is an elongated sleeve 22, the bore of the handle end portion of which is threaded to engage the threaded end M so that in rotation of the sleeve 22, the rod l2 may be moved outwardly with respect to the handle member 23 to an extent limited by the stop head 24 at the inner end of said rod. In other words, the end l3 of the rod l2 may be extended beyond the outer end of the sleeve 22 to a degree equal to the spacing between the inner end 25 of the sleeve and the head 25, thus freeing all of the teeth or blades on the end portion iii of the rod and permitting the shifting thereof to space all of the teeth or blades one from the other or to widely space one or more of the blades with re spect to each other in the process of cleaning the same.

The outer surface of the inner end portion of the sleeve 22 is knurled or otherwise roughened, as seen at 26, in order to establish a firm grip and couplin with the handle 23. This handle 23 may be composed of plastics and by simply heating the plastics sufficiently to expand the bore 21, the knurled end 25 may be then placed in the bore, andupon cooling, the handle will shrink firmlyupon the knurled portion 26 securely keying the handle against rotation. If desired, applied circumferential pressure can also be employed to accomplish the desired result while the plastic is still in a heated state. It will thus be apparent that in rotating the handle 23, the sleeve 22 is rotated to feed the rod outwardly for freeing the teeth or blades, as previously stated.

A protector shield 28 is also preferably employed at the inner end portion of the handle 23, this shield having a sleeve portion 2S fitting upon the sleeve 22 and preferably secured thereto, the shield being of suificient diameter to provide a guard preventing a flame from coming in direct contact with the handle. This shield or guard may also be used for supporting the end portion id in raised position with respect to a surface, assuming that the handle member 23 has flat sides, at least on upper and lower sur faces, as viewed in Fig. l of the drawing and also assuming that there is sufficient weight in the handle end to over-balance the weight of the comb end l2. This support would be desirable when the iron is warm.

Normally, the teeth or blades of the comb are held in firm engagement with ach other, wit the teeth all in common alinement, by firmly clamping the teeth or blades and the washers on the rod end it between the sleeve 22 and the head I5. When the blades have been separated in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2, and a re-assemblage is desired, the combend of the device is placed in a guard casing 30, shown detached in Fig. 4 of the drawing, this casing having a longitudinal bore 31 conforming snugly to the peripheral edges of the teeth or blades The open end of the casing 39 has flared walls 32 for guiding the teeth or blades for insertion into the casing 33, whereas the other end of the casing has a closed end wall 33 adapted to fit over the head end 15. The casing 30 may be of sufiicient length to extend beyond the innermost tooth or blade and in fact, this casing can be of sufficient length to extend up to the shield or guard 28.

In re-assembling and tightening the teeth or blades, after all of the teeth or blades have been inserted into the casing, the handle is rotated to draw the head iii in the direction of the sleeve 22 and this operation continues until the blades and washers have all been drawn into fiirm engagement with each other. The blades and washers have sufiicient frictional engagement with the rod i2 to retain the rod against rotation of the handl to clamp the blades and washers on the rod. Th casing serves to maintain proper alinement of the teeth or blades one with respect to the other in their final assembled position. In the use of the comb, the casing 30 is removed, particularly if the latter is composed of a plastic material, and the comb is placed over a flame or other heating medium in order to heat the blades to the required temperature for the intended use. In some instances, the casing 30 may be composed of metal, in which event, heating may be accomplished with the casing on the comb end portion I!) of the device and then removed by sliding the casing off from the teeth or blades, this latter operation being facilitated by the outwardly flared members In this connection, it will be understocd that th casing 38 is made to fit snugly but yet freely upon the teeth or blades so as to provide free relative movement. In tightening the blades, it will be desirable to arrange the 4 blades so as to extend radially with respect to the rod at a position registering with one of the fiat surfaces of the handle member 23. The fiat surfaces are also provided on the handle member to provide a firm hand grip facilitating rotation thereof.

It will be understood that the same circular surface IQ of each of the teeth or blade elements is concentric to the axis of the rod and to a radius common to the radius of the washers employed, so that regardless of the position of the washers on the rod, the outer peripheral surfaces of the washers will conform with the surfaces I9 of the respective elements. The apertures in each of the elements as well as the apertures of the washers will be made to fit snugly but freely on the rod in order to maintain this alinement. Where rods of different cross sectional contour are employed, the apertures of at least the elements will be made to conform with the difference in contour employed in the rod. However. the use of the round rod is preferred 5 or free rotation to facilitate the thorough cleaning of the separate elements by swinging into position, such as shown in dot and dash lines in 2 of the drawing.

It will be apparent that while the comb has been generally referred to as a type adapted to be heated prior to use, this is only one use of the comb, as the comb may be used in a cold or unheated state. From this standpoint, it will be apparent that the blades may be composed of any type or kind of materials and of contours suitable for the different uses. In this connection, it will be apparent that plastic materials may be employed in the teeth or prongs as well as in the spacing means or members employed. The distinctive feature in the present invention resides in the assemblage of independent teeth in the construction of a comb body and so assembled as to permit separation thereof and swinging of the teeth for cleaning or other purposes as well as for replacements.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A comb comprising an elongated rod, a plurality of teeth and washers arranged alternately on one end portion of the rod, a sleeve in threaded engagement with the other end portion of said rod, a head at the first named end of the rod, said sleeve being adapted to clamp the teeth and Washers in firm engagement with each other on the rod between said sleeve and head, with the teeth in common alinement with respect to each other, and a handle member secured to said sleeve and enveloping the threaded end portion of said rod.

2. A comb comprising an elongated rod, a plurality of teeth and washers arranged alternately on one end portion of the rod, a sleeve in threaded engagement with the other end portion of said rod, a head at the first named end of the rod, said sleeve being adapted to clamp the teeth and washers in firm engagement with each other on the rod between said sleeve and head, with the teeth in common alinement with respect to each other, a handle member secured to said sleeve and enveloping the threaded end portion of said rod, and means on the threaded end of said rod limiting movement of the rod outwardly with respect to said handle member and sleeve in wide spacing of the teeth on said rod.

3. A comb comprising an elongated rod, a plurality of teeth and washer arranged alternately on one end portion of the rod, a sleeve in threaded engagement with the other end portion of said rod, a head at the first named end of the rod, said sleeve being adapted to clamp the teeth and washers in firm engagement with each other on the rod between said sleeve and head, with the teeth in common alinement with respect to each other, a handle member secured to said sleeve and enveloping the threaded end portion of said rod, means on the threaded end of said rod limiting movement of the rod outwardly with respect to said handle member and sleeve in wide spacing of the teeth on said rod, and a guard on said sleeve at the inner end portion of the handle member.

4. A comb comprising an elongated rod, a plurality of teeth and washers arranged alternately on one end portion of the rod, a sleeve in threaded engagement with the other end portion of said rod, a head at the first named end of the rod, said sleeve being adapted to clamp the teeth and washers in firm engagement with each other on the rod between said sleeve and head, withthe teeth in common alinement with respect to each other, a handle member secured to said sleeve and enveloping the threaded end portion of said rod, means on the threaded end of said rod limiting movement of the rod outwardly with respect to said handle member and sleeve in wide spacing of the teeth on said rod, a guard on said sleeve at the inner end portion of the handle member, and each of said teeth being of the same peripheral contour.

5. A comb comprising an elongated rod, a pinrality of teeth and washers arranged alternately on one end portion of the rod, a sleeve in threaded engagement with the other end portion of said rod, a head at the first named end of the rod, said sleeve being adapted to clamp the teeth and washers in firm engagement with each other on the rod between said sleeve and head, with the teeth in common alinement with respect to each other, a handle member secured to said sleeve and enveloping the threaded end portion of Said rod, means on the threaded end of said rod limiting movement of the rod outwardly with respect to said handle member and sleeve in wide spacing of the teeth on said rod, a guard on said sleeve at the inner end portion of the handle member, each of said teeth being of the same peripheral contour, and the peripheral edge of the teeth having portions concentric to the axis of the rod and of a radius common to the radius of said washers.

6. A comb of the class described comprising a plurality of blade like elements, each element having an apertured end with a semi-circular peripheral edge concentric to the axis of the aperture therein, side edges of each element converging to form pointed opposed ends on said elements, an elongated rod inserted into the apertures of all of said elements, washers arranged on the rod intermediate adjacent elements to space said elements one from the other, said washers being of a diameter common to the semi-circular edge of each element, means movable longitudinally of the rod for clamping all of said elements and washers in firm engagement with each other in forming thereof a comb body portion, said last named means comprising a handle member of plastic material, and a guard between the inner end of the handle member and said comb body portion.

7. A comb of the class described comprising a plurality of blade like elements, each element having an apertured end with a semi-circular peripheral edge concentric to the axis of the aperture therein, side edges of each element converging to form pointed opposed ends on said elements, an elongated rod inserted into the apertures of all of said elements, washers arranged on the rod intermediate adjacent elements to space said elements one from the other, said washers being of a diameter common to the semi-circular edg of each element, means movable longitudinall of the rod for clamping all of said elements and washers in firm engagement with each other in forming thereof a comb body portion, said last named means comprising a handle member of plastic material, a guard between the inner end of the handle member and said comb body portion, and said guard being of greater diameter than the greatest diameter of the handle member.

ABRAHAM A. ARVINTZ. NATHAN A. ARVINS. ROBERT A. ARVINTZ. 

